Toy piano



- l 638 327 9 1927 s. H ECKSTEIN TOY PIANO Filed Jan. 28. 1926 Q I f ll 7 32 2 g 4 2 I ///////I///// 2 Patented Aug. 9, 1927.

UNITED STATES GEORGE HQECKSTEIN, or BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA;

' TOY PIANO.

Application filed January 28, 1926. Serial No. 84,525;

The objects of the invention are to provide an improved construction for a toy piano in which the cylinder ofa music boX is operated by means of the piano keys, to play tunes without regard to the order in which the keys are struck.

In this device a common actuating bar is operated successively by all the piano keys, and the bar is operatively connected with a rotatable member arranged so that the latter progressively sounds tonal members to produce a tune.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, hereinafter more fully r described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse section of the piano showing the operating mechanism. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof.

In these views A is the piano caseB,.B. B, are the piano keys pivoted at CC,. D is a heavy bar preferably formed of metal which is raised by each key in turn as the front ends of the keys are depressed by the finger tips. E is a rotatable cylinder journaled in the casing and supplied with fine points F, F, arranged in longitudinal rows thereon so as to engage in turn with the point of the toothcomb L, the fingers or tonal members of which are constructed to vibrate when engaged by the points and produce the musical tones.

The cylinder is provided with ratchet wheels G, G at the ends, the positions of the teeth of which correspond with the positions of the point-s on the cylinder so that when the cylinder is revolved the space from one tooth to another, the points will engage with the teeth of the comb, the rows of the teeth being circumterentially spaced the distance apart of the teeth in said ratchet wheels. To operatively connect these ratchet teeth I with the bar D so that when raised by the keys, the ratchets will revolve and will re volve the cylinder, a pawl H is attached one to each end of the bar. These pawls are engaged with the ratchet wheels to rotate the cylinder through a space equal to the space between the ratchet teeth and vibrate one tooth of the comb or as many teeth as are arranged upon the same horizontal line of the cylinder for each key depressed.

In this manner a tune will be correctly played by the operator no matter which key is depressed since all the keys operate upon the same bar. The bar should be heavy enough to fall by gravity after it has been released by the key, and is mounted sliding ly in guides I, I, on the frame of the piano.

The pawls may be formed of thin spring metal .or may be pivoted and spring pressed if desired.

There should be as many teeth upon the ratchets as there are keys in the piano, or they may be greater in number than the keys so that more than one tune may be played upon the same piano.

Also sound deadening material such as felt should be attached to the bar at J, and under the keys at K so that they will strike noiselessly against each other.

. Having described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is:

1. In a toy piano, the combination with a multiple number of piano keys of a ratchet mechanism having a single pawl, operating means for said pawl arranged to be actuated by depression of any one key, a rotatable member connected to said ratchet mechanism so as to be advanced thereby, projections on said rotatable member, and tonal members arranged to be sounded by said projections.

2. In a toy piano, the combination with a multiple number of piano keys of a bar extending transverse thereof and engaged with all of said keys so that depression of any one will move said bar, a pawl operated by movement ofsaid bar, a ratchet for advancement by said pawl, a rotatable member connected to said ratchet so as to be advanced thereby, projections on said rotatable member and tonal members arranged to be sounded by said project-ions.

3. In a toy piano. the combination with a multiple number of piano keys of a common actuating bar extending transverse thereof and engaged with all of said keys so that depression of any one key will move said bar, an intermittent rotation member operable by said bar,'a cylinder connected to said intermittent rotation member so as to be advanced thereby, projections on said cylinder and tonal members arranged to be sounded by said projections.

4. In a toy piano. the combination with a multiple number of piano keys, of a common actuating bar resting by gravity thereon, a cylinder having a multiple number of projecting points arranged thereon, a metal comb the teeth of which are engageable in turn with said points on said cylinder and means for operatively connecting said bar and said cylinder to revolve the same, the depression of any one key serving to revolve said cylinder the space betweentwo adjoining ratchet teeth.

5. In a toy piano, the combination with a case, a multiple of piano ke s pivoted therein, and a cylinder revolvable therein,csaid cylinder being provided with a multiple number of parallel longitudinal rows of points projecting therefrom, a ratchet wheel at each end of said cylinder, the teeth upon said wheels being spaced apart the distance day of Januay, E

between the parallel rows of points on said cylinder, a vibratable comb the teeth of v which are engageable by said points on said cylinder in turn as said cylinder revolves on its axis, a common actuating bar extending across the rear ends of said keys and raised by each key in turn when the said keys are depressed by the fingers of the operator and a spring pressed pawl attached adjacent to each end of said bar, each pawl engaging with one of said ratchet wheels.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st ORGE H. ECKSTEIN. 

